No injuries were reported Friday afternoon when a man being pursued by Atlanta police entered Emory University Hospital Midtown with a gun, leading an officer to fire a shot, according to authorities.
The gunfire caused a scare at the Peachtree Street hospital, where some employees reported temporarily taking cover moments after the shot was fired.
According to a spokesperson for Atlanta police, the incident began at about 12:23 p.m. when officers were alerted to a possible stolen car in the area.
“Upon arrival, a concerned citizen notified the responding officer that the suspect was fleeing from a nearby apartment,” the police department told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Officers then canvassed for the suspect and were able to locate him in the area of West Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue. Responding officers observed that the suspect was in possession of a firearm and attempted to flee the area on foot.”
Officers pursued the suspect, who ran inside the hospital.
”While inside of the hospital, officers confronted the suspect and one of the responding officers discharged his firearm,” a police spokesperson said. “No one was struck by the gunfire and officers were able to place the suspect into custody without further incident.”
The man was identified by police as 20-year-old Damien Arceneaux. He’s facing charges of aggravated assault against an officer, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony and willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
Police initially reported that someone with a gun was inside an ambulance and that no shots were fired. Investigators later confirmed they were pursuing a man, but he was not a patient.
A letter from Emory Midtown Chief Operating Officer Dr. Adam Webb said the man entered the courtyard outside the hospital cafe. He said the facility was operating as usual Friday afternoon.
“We are committed to providing a safe environment for our staff, physicians, patients and visitors, which is why we have weapons detectors, a well-trained security team and other measures in place,” Webb said. “Our sincerest thanks to the APD and the Emory Police Department for their quick response.”
Emory hospital is located less than two miles from the Northside Medical Midtown building where a May 3 shooting killed one woman and seriously injured four others. A Fulton County grand jury indicted Deion Duwane Patterson in that case in July.
